Dramatic Car Chase in Eastern Suburbs
Dramatic Car Chase in Eastern Suburbs
Four Police
vehicles are damaged, an officer's hand was cut and a
Remuera
resident's Toyota Hiace van is badly damaged
after a fleeing driver in the
stolen van drove through
several eastern suburbs before finally being
cornered in
Pakuranga this afternoon.
The drama started at about
12.40 in Greenlane East Rd when the owner of a
property
arrived home to find his house had just been burgled and the
offender was driving off in his Toyota Hiace van.
The
owner challenged the offender and tried to stop him but his
attempts were
unsuccessful. Minutes later Police located
the stolen van heading south and
Police Air Support
Unit, Eagle, went overhead to observe and inform ground
staff who were following but not in pursuit.
The
offender continued to drive dangerously, underpassing on the
inside of
lanes and deliberately driving into oncoming
traffic. He drove into the
Pakuranga area and, during a
Police attempt to spike the vehicle, the driver
rammed
two patrol cars. The spiked vehicle drove onto Ti Rakau
drive before
heading into a dead end street where the
offender continued to drive at
Police vehicles but was
eventually stopped shortly after 2pm in Kentigern
Close.
Inspector Shawn Rutene of the Northern Communications
Centre says the
offender was determined to drive
dangerously despite efforts by Police to
safely stop
him.
"He showed absolutely no regard for the safety of
other road users and our
staff and we're all very
grateful this escapade ended with only minor
injuries to
the vehicle's owner and one of our officers."
ends